Kevin Martin's D

M4P · Post #1 » by **M4P** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 11:44 am

Is there any hope for improvement?

SacKingsPejaFan · Post #2 » by **SacKingsPejaFan** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 1:11 pm

He has long arms and is fast so I don't see why not. He showed some flashes of being above average in Sacramento when he got some Prince comparisons. Even if there is no hope, he can still average 30 ppg on less than 20 FG attempts so I wouldn't be complaining.

longfellow44 · Post #3 » by **longfellow44** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 2:23 pm

He has all the tools to be a good defender he once was looked at as a potential defensive stud, but then that all just went away and he became the relatively disinterested defender that he is today.

Post #4 » by **ICMTM** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 2:47 pm

Martin's D is one over par.... It will make the cut every weekend but it won't win you anything.

perezident · Post #5 » by **perezident** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 4:25 pm

He's a gambler like rondo.. He would intentially let guys blow pass him then try to poke the ball through.

M4P · Post #6 » by **M4P** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 4:59 pm

longfellow44 wrote:He has all the tools to be a good defender he once was looked at as a potential defensive stud, but then that all just went away and he became the relatively disinterested defender that he is today.

See that's what pisses everybody off on the Rockets' board. He'll let scrubs like Matthews go off on him before actually giving a damn.

SactownHrtBrks8 · Post #7 » by **SactownHrtBrks8** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 5:02 pm

I always thought he guarded point guards better than shooting guards

dozencousins · Post #8 » by **dozencousins** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 5:22 pm

Who cares K-MART is no longer a KING why dwell on the past ????????????

YC42Balla · Post #9 » by **YC42Balla** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 5:44 pm

bdgking wrote:Who cares K-MART is no longer a KING why dwell on the past ????????????

I agree.

DickVitale · Post #10 » by **DickVitale** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 6:02 pm

This guy might be a rockets fan asking - he didn't say but that's what I figured when I read the topic.

Post #11 » by **pillwenney** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 6:52 pm

Kevin is often pretty solid on-the-ball. He has extremely quick feet, and he can use that at times to draw charges on the perimeter that other players just can't draw. There also however, times when he just gets out-muscled man to man. But when he focuses, he is generally pretty capable here.

But his focus gets pretty bad sometimes--particularly off the ball. It's funny, for a guy who is so good at using defenders blind spots and taking advantage of their lack of awareness when playing off the ball offensively, he's so bad at it defensively. It can't possibly be a lack of understanding, since he's so good at it on the other end. He just seems to not want to really focus enough.

Post #12 » by **Wolfay** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 8:29 pm

Defense was one of my biggest gripes about him. He gets into the passing lanes fairly well and draws some charges, but that's about it. Some say he's solid, but that's a stretch. He regularly lets people go off on him. Some Kings fans don't want to see it, but Rockets fans seem to. Martin was overrated around here for a long time.

AnDrOiDKing4 · Post #13 » by **AnDrOiDKing4** » Thu Jul 1, 2010 9:49 pm

Just think hes too mentally weak to be a good defender. Once a guy starts pushing him around he will check out.

SacKingZZZ · Post #14 » by **SacKingZZZ** » Fri Jul 2, 2010 1:40 am

He's quick and can take on ball charges pretty well. As said he'll gamble a lot but as for improvement I don't know. I think the ways he's limited has a lot to do with the fact that he's not the biggest or strongest guy. When he looks bad he's typically getting overpowered. I always liked him better guarding PG's. It was too much to ask of him to hold down the offense and defend PG's here however and with the Rockets having such a small PG I think he has to guard 2's. He's not terrible, not great, not really in between but still, not terrible.

Post #15 » by **City of Trees** » Fri Jul 2, 2010 5:37 am

he doesnt fight thru screens at times.. good at playing the passing lane.. imo he is jus tooo scrony to guard and elite 2

SacTown Kings · Post #16 » by **SacTown Kings** » Fri Jul 2, 2010 5:56 am

Wow some people are giving Martin too much credit. He was a terrible defender IMO. He might be quick and grabs some steals but he was one of the weaker defenders on the Kings IMO and thats pretty bad considering most of the guys on the Kings were pretty bad.

RoyalCourtJestr · Post #17 » by **RoyalCourtJestr** » Fri Jul 2, 2010 6:26 am

I think the Martin hate escilated overboard when he was traded. IMHO he coulda done more to work with Tyreke but got underrated. Still, we got a great deal for him and I wouldn't take it back.

Decent defender. Nothing great, not the weakest link. Stayed in front of his guy most of the time.

Krimzen · Post #18 » by **Krimzen** » Fri Jul 2, 2010 6:43 am

Is there any hope for improvement? I really don't think so.

Martin has been in the league a pretty long time, appears to have maxed out his lanky frame, and is already in his athletic prime. I don't see much reason to expect him to suddenly become a better defender. He is a good player that brings a lot to a team, but I don't think plus defense will ever be one of them.

Post #19 » by **KF10** » Fri Jul 2, 2010 6:58 am

I think Martin's best defensive years is when he wasn't the primary option (in terms of scoring). Probably you will see a better perspective of Martin's defenses once Yao returns. Having a player like Yao will be good for Martin's overall game.

M4P · Post #20 » by **M4P** » Fri Jul 2, 2010 2:56 pm

DickVitale wrote:This guy might be a rockets fan asking - he didn't say but that's what I figured when I read the topic.

Yeah Rockets fan here. Am I not allowed to visit other boards and ask some questions here and there :-?

? I figured you guys would know more about Martin than we would.

Lightning Strike wrote:Decent defender. Nothing great, not the weakest link. Stayed in front of his guy most of the time.

Martin is the weak link defensively on the Rockets' starting lineup believe it or not.